Unity Marketing’s giftware industry report found that the gift and decorative accessories posted an increase of 4.9% to reach $50.9 billion in 1998. Their study found:

 The multifaceted products of the giftware industry, including baby and children’s gifts, greeting, cards, candles, wall decor and other home decorative accessories, figurines and collectibles are playing a bigger role in American consumers’ lives.

Consumers are purchasing more giftware items for themselves, using these self-purchased gifts as a reward, stress-relievers or to enhance the atmosphere of the home. They are also choosing more giftware items for different gift-giving occasions, as compared to apparel, electronics or other types of gifts.

The fastest growing segment in the industry in 1998 was home decorative accessories which posted a 15.3% increase, up from $11.4 billionn in 1997 to $13.2 billion in 1998. This segment included:

• tabletop gifts up 69% to $909 million
• decorative boxes and tins up 56% to $764 million
• garden and outdoor decoratives up 21% to $948 million
• candles up 17% to $2.1 billion

Transforming Tomorrow

Helen Keller clearly understood disappointment when she shared these thoughts: "When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

Are you still looking behind at the closed door? Or have you moved forward to see the fresh, new light shining from the door that just opened?